Trigger warning again for domestic abuse. Thanks for reading.

February 2017

Stevie straightened her short pink flowery dress in the mirror, it wasn't her usual thing, but it was valentines day and she wanted to look amazing for Declan. She had been walking on egg shells since new years eve and she wanted to get their relationship back on track. He hadn't hit her since but she had been very careful not to upset him, she had avoided anyone he may not like her talking too and had allowed him to keep tabs on her, so much so he was even tracking her phone, in case of an emergency he said, but however much she tried to tell herself this was wrong, she had that niggling feeling this was what she deserved. "What are you wearing?" his voice laced with sarcasm startled her.

"It's just a dress, my mum got it for me on my last Birthday, don't you like it?"

"No, I don't, have you looked in a mirror?" she glanced at her reflection once again and he laughed "Oh, you actually thought you looked good"

"It was a present from my mum"

"Well clearly your mum had no taste, no wonder she managed to raise someone like you"

"I'll change" she whispered, tears stinging her eyes

"You'll do no such thing, you may as well give everyone a laugh, let's go".


They had eaten a romantic dinner and walked along the embankment, the night hadn't been a total disaster, it could even end well. That was until she realised they were headed towards the nicks local pub, she stopped and took his hand in hers "Why are we going in here? It's valentines, let's go home and-" his voice interrupted her

"You really think I want to be at home with you looking like that." He stroked her face, his fingers catching in her hair, pulling hard on it "You are a state, I don't even know why I am with you, I mean look at you, you are disgusting"

"Please don't Dec, don't talk to me like that"

"What? Truthfully" he had an anger in his voice that she didn't like "Come on, we are going to see our colleagues, hopefully no one will notice you"

"Dec, I don't want to go in there"

"Tough, now move Stevie".

The pub was close to empty, a few drunks propping up the bar and a couple huddled in a booth. "Serge, I haven't seen you in here for a long time" the reliable voice of Kirsty Knight startled her and she turned and noticed the young couple that must have virtually followed them inside "And you are looking fabulous"

"Thanks" Stevie responded, a very slight smile tugging at her lips as she nodded a hello to Leon.

"She is taking the piss" she closed her eyes as Declan whispered into her ear, before turning his attention to Kirsty "Her mum got it, you don't have to humour her" he said

"Oh, I'm not" Kirsty responded "Honesty you look gorgeous Stevie, doesn't she Leon?"

"Yeah, you look great Stevie" he responded, his answer had been slightly awkward but it felt genuine at the same time. "Why don't you join us for a drink?"

Stevie went to nod but Declan answered before she had a chance "No, thank you, we are just leaving". Stevie smiled a weak smile to the pair as Declan took her hand and began to lead her from the pub "You happy now, you made a fool of yourself" he spat.


Arriving home she slowly slipped her heels off, she didn't want to be here, she wanted to be anywhere but here. He had been silent the whole walk home, just like new years eve, he was clearly angry, just like new years eve, she had upset him again, just like new years eve and when she had been trying so hard not too. "Take it off" he said, his voice thick with anger.

"What?" she asked, although she already knew the answer

"Get that thing off of you" she slowly removed the dress, leaving her in only her matching white bra and French knickers. "Give it here"

"Why?" she asked, regretting it the second the word left her mouth

"Because I fucking said so". She reluctantly handed the dress to him and he smirked at her "We need to make sure you never go out looking like that again, don't we?" he began to walk away "Come on"

She followed him to the kitchen and watched as he pulled a pair of scissors from a draw "Please don't Dec, that was the last thing my mum got me, I promise I will never wear it again"

"Well your mum, was a fool" he shouted as he began to cut the dress into pieces, he passed the bits to her and snarled "Put it in the bin"

She gulped "Dec, please, I can't wear it now, I'll just put it away somewhere, as a memory"

"Put it in the bin, now"

Tears left her eyes as she dropped the material to the bin. He walked to the fridge and took out a day old left over lasagne and scrapped it on top of her dress. Fresh tears fell from her eyes and he threw the lasagne dish to the floor, the loud smash she had anticipated, still made her jump as it sounded the room. "Now clean that up" he shouted, forcing her to her knees, she felt pieces of the glass pierce her skin "And then we will take the rubbish out" he laughed.

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